splurge-worthy beauty

A few weeks ago I posted some drugstore beauty favorites of mine, and since then I've had a handful of emails asking what beauty products are worth the extra money.

Here is what I think is worth your hard-earned cash:

1. A great foundation. I'm sure drugstore brands have some promising foundations, but it's hard to find your exact color when you're staring at a bottle through plastic. Take the time to go to your favorite makeup counter and find the right foundation for you. Don't ask them to do a swatch test - ask them to put it all over your face, and then feel free to ask to check out the foundation in natural light. When I was working at Nordstrom it wasn't uncommon for me to walk out to the front of the store with a client and a mirror to insure that their foundation was a perfect match.

2. A brow service. I get my eyebrows done about once a month at a Benefit Brow Bar. They take their time, and never over-pluck. For years I got my eyebrows threaded, but when my favorite lady moved away and  I tried someone new I was left with super thin (for me) eyebrows. I've never had that problem with Benefit.

3. A great fragrance. I love the idea of having a signature scent, but I have too many lovely perfumes to stick to just one. Lately, however I've been wearing Hanae Mori most days. A good perfume doesn't require you to spray too much, and will last all day. Make sure to spray your neck and wrist - they give off heat, which will reactivate your scent throughout the day. {Hint: go to your nearest Nordstrom fragrance counter and ask for some different perfume samples! The people who work there want to help you find something you love, and are usually very generous with the samples.}

4. A fancy lipstick. Sigh. YSL makes the prettiest lipstick cases, don't ya think? Not only are the cases gorgeous, but the formula is amazing too. If you'd going to splurge make sure you get one you know you'll wear a lot. The perfect nude, or that gorgeous red.

5. Great brushes. Stila and Laura Mercier make the best brushes I've ever used. A great brush (or brush set) is an investment at first, but if you take care of them (wash them once a month with warm water, and baby shampoo, rinse well, soak out excess water and lay flat to dry over night) they will last you a lifetime. Worth the investment, trust me on this one.

6. An eye shadow pallette. Urban Decay makes the best eye shadow pallettes. Their shadows are super pigmented, which means you don't have to use a lot and they have great staying power. With a pallette you get some serious bang for your buck.

7. Big, old sunglasses! With some big sunnies you can get away with a multitude of sins - no makeup, tired eyes, puffy eyes, etc. and still look pretty darn fabulous. This House of Harlow pair is at the top of my birthday list!

So tell me, what do YOU find splurge-worthy when it comes to beauty products?!

Click on the pictures below to purchase any of the following products!

Foundation

Signature Scent

Fancy Lipstick

Brushes

Palette

Sunnies